Blog Posting # 812; Copyright 27 September 2024. EducateMHC
Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’), comprise the commercial real estate (CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com, to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant and author of many nonfiction texts.
George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, and author/editor of 30 books & chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer & figures of speech.
No Formal Blog Posting This Week
Spencer Roane and I were in Elkhart, IN., most of this past week attending the annual RV industry Supplier’s Show at the RV/MH Hall of Fame. This was a first time experience for both of us, with me looking for ‘story ideas’ and Spencer, for tips and features to improve the recently concluded SECO Conference in Atlanta, GA. We found both.
But let me tell you, it was one Big Surprise as we turned off Indiana Route # 17 onto Executive Parkway. Across Route # 17 from the industrial park were several new RVs on display. As we drove the half mile long entrance drive to the RV/MH Hall of Fame, we saw dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of all types of recreational vehicles produced by a host of different manufacturers. And once on the RV/MH Hall of Fame campus – which displayed only homes from THOR Industries family of companies, ALL recreational vehicle types were present: travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, destination trailers, camping trailers, truck campers, park models, Class A, B & C motorhomes.
There were actually two shows going on at the same time. The Supplier Show already mentioned, and the Dealer Show for THOR Industries independent (street) RV retailers. Well, we registered and started walking and walking and walking. The Supplier Show was 100% indoors, filling both the huge brand new exposition center and half of Ingram Hall. The THOR Show was mostly outdoors, with the RV/MH Hall of Fame’s large outdoor covered pavilion serving as central meal area and protection from the intermittent rain showers.
On the drive back to Indianapolis we agreed the shows had been very worthwhile to visit. I have much to write about during the months ahead (e.g. Park Model RVs as affordable housing), and Spencer was excited about several ideas he’ll be transferring from this experience to the next SECO Conference during fall 2025.
So, what else is new? Not much worth mentioning here. Perhaps when I get through the accumulated mail and social media posts something else will surface.
George Allen